* Bush backs EU plan on global financial reform US President George W. Bush has backed the European idea of a series of global talks on reform of the world's financial system, with the first summit set to be held shortly after the US presidential elections in November.
* Olmert Seeking Golan-Giveaway Agreement In light of reports that outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is trying to reach an agreement with Syria before he leaves office, a party colleague, MK David Tal, says: "Hands off the Golan."
* Abbas: I was promised almost all of West Bank Palestinian president tell reporters in Ramallah that Prime Minister Olmert promised to give him 'nearly all of the West Bank and east Jerusalem neighborhoods.
* Iran: Defeat in UNSC 'obvious injustice' Iran says its failure to win a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council was an "obvious injustice."
* Saudi official presents new Israeli-Palestinian peace plan Turki al-Faisal, the former Saudi intelligence director and a member of the royal family, presented a proposal for Israeli-Palestinian peace at a conference yesterday.
* Disarray at Turkish terror trial The trial of 86 people in Turkey on charges including armed insurrection and aiding a terror group has adjourned after chaotic opening scenes.
* Egypt pushes for Palestinian unity government Cairo invites Fatah, Hamas to attend talks which would deal with establishment of PA unity cabinet ahead of January elections, integration of Hamas, Islamic Jihad factions into PLO.
* Turkey: Syria-Israel talks should resume Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said he wants Turkish-mediated indirect talks between Syria and Israel to resume.
* The Next U.S. President and the Middle East The Arabs should be aware that pressure is mounting in the United States to reduce dependence on Middle East oil Ð in other words to reduce oil imports.
* Peres grants Livni two more weeks to form coalition gov't President Shimon Peres on Monday granted Kadima leader Tzipi Livni a two-week extension to put together a coalition government.